Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-09-21
ONE SINGLE FAULT.
Why a Noble Soldier Was Dis
guised as a Coachman.

8tAb0d etb q SSoOAAh4AesAs
l will tell you the story as it was
told to me, and precisely as it occurred,
for it is not fiction intended to show
how single fault is sufficient to de-
stroy the whole life of man, but a
fact, in the recital of which can not
give you the real names, as it would
reveal the secrets of family that for
years has held the highest official and
social ranks in one of the principal
States of Germany.
Ono morning Marshal c., then but
General, finding himself in need of a
coachman, applied to woman in the
Rue Saint Dominique, who kept fur
nished lodging house for men of that
class, and also carriages for hire. At
first she declared it was impossible to
serve him; she had none of whom she
would be responsible. as all the coach
men who drove her carriages were
hired by the day, and were not lodged
at her house. There was one, and
only one, whom she could recommend
to the General, sort of overseer of
the rest, but it was precisely on account
of his good qualities that she desired
TO retain him in her service. All the
same, as the General insisted and was
an excellent customer, she finally con-
cluded to yield.
There was nothing, however, unus-
ual in this mans appearance or man
ner when once established in the Gen
erals household, unless it was an ex-
IRENE politeness or polish of domeanor,
a scrupulous care to keep himself
apart from the rest of the domestics,
and rare eXactitude in the accom-
plishment of his duties that rendered
him invaluable 20 his master. Yet,
strange to say, the consideration and
preference exhibited toward the coach
man did not rs usual arouse the dislike
of the other servants, for there was
something about him, profound, un-
alterable sadness, that made it impos-
sible to believe that it was his pride
which separated him from his fellows.
AT the dinner hour he seated himself
with the others, it is true, but he
ate with gravity and in silence,
and retired to his stable as
soon as the repast was fin
ishcd. In the chateau of General G.
the care of the horses left Muller with
a great deal of leisure on his hands,
nevertheless he never resorted to the
wine-shop, or INDUCED in play like the
others, but seated himself under the
cedars in the park to read. These
peculiarities, which they recalled later
on, at the time astonished no one.
MULLER is bear his comrades de-
cided, "an unsociable bear;" and they
contentcd themselves with leaving him
alone.
Two years passed in this way, Muller
following the General wherever war
conducted him. This was in 1907.
In one of these periodical wander
ings they found themselves at Raguse,
in Dalmatia, where the Emperor had
confidcd to General c. the care of the
Government. 1t was i'm this little city
that the adventurc-but stop I am
ahead of my story.
One day when the Govcrnor-General,
as Muller's employer was then called,
was to rtSeive at dinner large party
of his own personal staff and number
of the principal officers of an Austrian
corps stationed in the neighborhood,
he was obliged to call into requisition
the services of all the servants in the
house. Muller was, of course, in
cluded, and when the hour arrived, he
was waiting in the dining-room, his
napkin on his arm. The crowded table
and the requirements of the guests
doubtless prevented him from noticing
any one in particular at first. Dinner
was nearly over, when suddenly as he
stopped to remove dish for the be-
ginning of the third course one of the
Austrian officers, happening to turn a
little to give him room, uttered sharp
cry of surprise. Muller, not less dis
turbcd and unnerved than the officer,
became as white as ghost, the cover
that he was lifting fell from his hand,
and he quilted the salle-a-manger in a
state of agitation remarked by all.
Nevertheless the scene had passed so
rapidly that no one was able to say
whether it was the agitation that had
caused the awkwardness, or the awk-
wardness the agitation, but dinner was
finished without Muller reappeaiing.
In the meantime, however, the Cen
eral was not content. He, at least, had
seen that the Austrian officer and his
coachman were not strangers 10 each
other; also. that the astonishment be-
trayed was not the astonishment of a
master recognizing an old servant A
strange emotion, profound alarm,
had shown itself in the expression OF
these two men as they found them
selves face to face. Moreover, the pre-.
occupation of the Austrian's manner
during the remainder of the meal had
not escaped him. Had war been go.
ing on between France and Austria,
General G. would have felt convinced
that Muller was playing the role Of Q
spy--a supposition under the existing
state OF things impossible. 1t wa!
more reasonable to thjnk that thu
coachman had committed a csime, che